Happy Journey Motel

We had no plans and ended up staying here on a whim for three nights. The rate was fair, and getting a smoking room was a plus since those are rare in NY. The room was big and the owner was nice enough. I was disappointed there wasn't any wash or shampoo, which was pretty inconvenient when we'd unexpectedly stayed out of town. I enjoyed the stay and would come back.

A travel snafu with my extended-stay hotel left me booking this place at the last minute and paying cash because I didn't have a card with me. There was a bit of a language barrier with the owner, but the stay was pleasant overall. The rooms had been recently renovated, and the A/C worked well in the sticky summer weather. I even managed to lock myself out while getting ice, and the owner kindly came to unlock my door in the middle of the night. It calls itself a one-star hotel, but to me it felt like a much nicer upscale motel. It was very clean and fairly quiet, with clean linens, and had what I needed at an affordable rate. I'd recommend it for a solo trip or an emergency stopover.

From the outside you might not expect it, but it was pretty quiet. If you're on a budget, it's the cheapest place in the area. The owner can come off a little rude, though maybe it's just a language barrier. My room was clean, the bathroom looked newly remodeled, and the Wi-Fi signal was quite good. Not a bad spot when you need somewhere to sleep at short notice.

We found this place online while looking for somewhere to stay for the Boilermaker 15k. The price was great, and though it wasn't fancy, it was clean and comfortable. That's all I need for a good night's sleep. The front desk people were so friendly and accommodating. I'll definitely stay again when I'm in Utica.